re: Frank Barning -- slightly OT

[Kalineman]

For many years, I was fortunate enough to write a monthly column in Baseball Hobby News called The Inside Pitch. I got to know Frank and Vivian well and they were first-class people. Frank and I would often have long coast-to-coast discussions about the hobby, since he would call my Traverse City (MI) home from San Diego. Frank loves the hobby. I'll always treasure his friendship.

[jcmtiger]

Hi Nick, glad to see you are still active in the Hobby. Remember those Plymouth shows?

Joe maples

[blackandgold]

Originally Posted by Kalineman

For many years, I was fortunate enough to write a monthly column in Baseball Hobby News called The Inside Pitch. I got to know Frank and Vivian well and they were first-class people. Frank and I would often have long coast-to-coast discussions about the hobby, since he would call my Traverse City (MI) home from San Diego. Frank loves the hobby. I'll always treasure his friendship.

I loved your column in BHN, especially the "Wiffle Ball" one. Don't know if you remember me, but I traded you a bunch of Chip Hilton books you needed.
Take care.
Matt

[Kalineman]

Joe, those old Detroit shows were so memorable - from Frank Nagy sitting there selling his 1959 Fleer sets (minus #68) for $5 and his Dad's Hockey - to talking to the late but great Don Steinbach about the hobby. He got me started on my 1952 Bowman set and then offered me the Mantle and Mays - both near mint - for a combined $70. This was in the mid 1970s. Still a lot of money for a poor college kid, but I pulled the trigger.
Matt, I sure do remember you helping me with those Chip Hilton books. A few years ago, a guy who said he was working on a Chip Hilton movie wanted to read the entire series, so he made me an offer I couldn't refuse. I put together another set after that, book-by-book.

[wrapperguy]

Great to hear that Frank will be blogging. I am sure they have a lot to share. They are class all the way. Nick, good to see you on the board every now and then. Also remember your articles and seeing you at Chicago area shows. You would not remember me, however.

[jerrys]

Thanks for starting this thread Rich - the first time I met Frank and Vivian in the mid 70s they lived in Glen Cove on Long Island and he was in the beginning stages of the BHN. We set up at the same great Willow Grove and Plymouth shows.

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At the 1999 NSCC

I believe this was the last year they setup at a National.

[mrmopar]

Frank did a Barnstorming piece on my collecting interests a number of years ago. He'd apparently pick a couple guys and feature them in his column and then this would be a way to get exposure for trades and dealings you might not otherwise have.

I also used to buy a lot from Vivian on Ebay. I was a regular repeat customer and got some great items, but then she stopped selling suddenly. If she resumed, it was under a different ID.

[Frank Barning]

Hello. We ran out of great cards to sell. Were you buying T206s with tough backs?

Please check out . . .

http://barnstormingwithfrankbarning.blogspot.com/

[mrmopar]

Frank,

If that was directed at me, I was more of a modern guy. I did get a bunch of autographed stuff and various oddball stuff (BHN sets, Garvey Raisin Bran tip sets, etc). I would buy whatever caught my eye and I tended to shop a sellers listings if I found one thing I liked and eventually end up with numerous items.

I believe got a couple nice of Gil Hodges autographed photos...pretty sure those were from you, but it's been a while.

[cfc1909]

Around 2003 and 2004 I believe you and Vivian just flooded the market with tough 206s. I was sending checks every weekend and was in my glory. I hated to see it end. Good thing was I was on ebay when the unloading started and also picked a few nice lots out of a certain auction house that I am sure were the Barnings lots.

I still have a ton of tough backs from those auctions -you guys almost made tough backs look like they were commons-thanks so much for the additions to my collection-remember these two

they were actually raw when I bought them

thanks so much Jim Rivera

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Jennings.jpg

Jenningsb.jpg

[Gradedcardman]

Jim those backs are amazing !!